Evaporator device for ice-making apparatus

Abstract

A new and improved combination evaporator and ice-forming device preferably includes an interlocking grid-type ice-forming plate arrangement with water-receiving and ice-forming recesses being defined by the interlocking grid members. The preferred embodiments include a pair of such plate subassemblies interconnected in a back-to-back relationship with an evaporator tube disposed therebetween. Novel water distribution and frame and housing arrangements are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In an evaporator and ice-forming device for an ice-making machine having a water inlet adapted for fluid communication with a source of water, an evaporator tube adapted for fluid communication with a source of refrigerant, at least one ice-forming plate assembly disposed in close heat transfer proximity with said evaporator tube, and water distribution means for distributing water from said water inlet to said ice-forming plate assembly, the improvement wherein said ice-forming plate assembly includes an inner plate member having one side thereof disposed in close heat transfer proximity with said evaporator tube and having a number of elongated openings extending therethrough, a number of generally horizontally-extending grid members serially spaced vertically along an outer side of said inner plate member, and a number of generally vertically-extending grid members serially spaced horizontally along said outer side of said inner plate member and interlockingly intersecting said vertically spaced horizontal grid members, said intersecting horizontal and vertical grid members extending laterally outwardly from said inner plate member and intersecting one another to define the sides of a number of rows of open, outwardly-facing water-receiving recesses therebetween with said inner plate member defining the floors of said water-receiving recesses, said vertical and horizontal grid members being disposed on an opposite side of said inner plate member from the evaporator tube to form an interlocking grid subassembly, said grid subassembly having a number of laterally inwardly-protruding tabs thereon, said tabs extending through said elongated openings in said inner plate member and being bent over on the evaporator tube side of said inner plate member in order to interlockingly secure said horizontal and vertical grid members to said inner plate member and to form said ice-forming plate assembly, said ice-forming plate assembly and said evaporator tube being coated with a heat conductive coating after said grid subassembly is secured to said inner plate member, said grid subassembly including water communication openings formed therein generally adjacent at least some of said intersections of said vertical and horizontal grid members in order to provide for a fluid communication between adjacent rows of said water-receiving recesses. 
     
     
       2. The invention according to claim 1, wherein said evaporator and ice-forming device includes a pair of said ice-forming plate assemblies, one of said ice-forming plate assemblies being disposed on each of opposite sides of said evaporator tube, and fastener 82, 84 means for securing said ice-forming plate assemblies to one another with said evaporator tube therebetween. 
     
     
       3. The invention according to claim 2, wherein said secured-together ice-forming plate assemblies with said evaporator tube therebetween are coated with a heat conductive coating. 
     
     
       4. In an evaporator and ice-forming device for an ice-making machine having a water inlet adapted for fluid communication with a source of water, an evaporator tube adapted for fluid communication with a source of refrigerant, at least one ice-forming plate assembly disposed in close heat transfer proximity with said evaporator tube, and water distribution means for distributing water from said water inlet to said ice-forming plate assembly, the improvement wherein said ice-forming plate assembly includes an inner plate member having one side thereof disposed in close heat transfer proximity with said evaporator tube and having a number of elongated openings extending therethrough, a number of generally horizontally-extending grid members serially spaced vertically along an outer side of said inner plate member, and a number of generally vertically-extending grid members serially spaced horizontally along said outer side of said inner plate member and interlockingly intersecting said vertically spaced horizontal grid members, said intersecting horizontal and vertical grid members extending laterally outwardly from said inner plate member and intersecting one another to define the sides of a number of rows of open, outwardly-facing water-receiving recesses therebetween with said inner plate member defining the floors of said water-receiving recesses, said vertical and horizontal grid members being disposed on an opposite side of said inner plate member from the evaporator tube to form an interlocking grid subassembly, said grid subassembly having a number of laterally inwardly-protruding tabs thereon, said tabs extending through said elongated openings in said inner plate member and being bent over on the evaporator tube side of said inner plate member in order to interlockingly secure said horizontal and vertical grid members to said inner plate member and to form said ice-forming plate assembly, said ice-forming plate assembly and said evaporator tube being coated with a heat conductive coating after said grid subassembly is secured to said inner plate member, said horizontal and vertical grid members having complementary inwardly and outwardly-extending interlocking slots spaced apart therein along opposite inner and outer edges of said grid members generally at the intersections thereof, said interlocking slots in said horizontal grid members interlockingly receiving said intersecting vertical grid members, and said interlocking slots in said vertical grid members interlockingly receiving said horizontal grid members, said grid subassembly including water communication openings formed therein generally adjacent at least some of said intersections of said vertical and horizontal grid members in order to provide for a fluid communication between adjacent rows of said water-receiving recesses. 
     
     
       5. The invention according to claim 4, wherein said vertical grid members have their interlocking slots spaced apart along their outer edges generally at said intersections, horizontal grid members have their interlocking slots spaced apart along their inner edges generally at said intersections, and said water communication openings being formed in said vertical grid members and spaced generally along the inner edges thereof, said interlocking slots in said horizontal grid members cooperating with said water communication openings for providing said fluid communication between said adjacent rows of said water-receiving recesses. 
     
     
       6. The invention according to claim 5, wherein said evaporator and ice-forming device includes a pair of said ice-forming plate assemblies, one of said ice-forming plate assemblies being disposed on each of opposite sides of said evaporator tube, and fastener means for securing said ice-forming plate assemblies to one another with said evaporator tube therebetween. 
     
     
       7. The invention according to claim 6, wherein said secured-together ice-forming plate assemblies with said evaporator tube therebetween are coated with a heat conductive coating. 
     
     
       8. In an evaporator and ice-forming device for an ice-making machine having a water inlet adapted for fluid communication with a source of water, an evaporator tube adapted for fluid communication with a source of refrigerant, at least one ice-forming plate assembly disposed in close heat transfer proximity with said evaporator tube, and water distribution means for distributing water from said water inlet to said ice-forming plate assembly, the improvement wherein said ice-forming plate assembly includes an inner plate member having one side thereof disposed in close heat transfer proximity with said evaporator tube and having a number of elongated openings extending therethrough, a number of generally horizontally-extending grid members serially spaced vertically along an outer side of said inner plate member, and a number of generally vertically-extending grid members serially spaced horizontally along said outer side of said inner plate member and interlockingly intersecting said vertically spaced horizontal grid members, said intersecting horizontal and vertical grid members extending laterally outwardly from said inner plate member and intersecting one another to define the sides of a number of rows of open, outwardly-facing water-receiving recesses therebetween with said inner plate member defining the floors of said water-receiving recesses, said vertical and horizontal grid members being disposed on an opposite side of said inner plate member from the evaporator tube to form an interlocking grid subassembly, said grid subassembly having a number of laterally inwardly-protruding tabs thereon, said tabs extending through said elongated openings in said inner plate member and being bent over on the evaporator tube side of said inner plate member in order to interlockingly secure said horizontal and vertical grid members to said inner plate member and to form said ice-forming plate assembly, said ice-forming plate assembly and said evaporator tube being coated with a heat conductive coating after said grid subassembly is secured to said inner plate member, said evaporator and ice-forming device further including a single common frame assembly for generally surrounding and housing an edge area of said water distribution means, and said ice-forming plate assemblies, and said evaporator tube, said common frame assembly being adapted for mounting said evaporator and ice-forming device in said ice-making machine. 
     
     
       9. The invention according to claim 8, wherein said common frame assembly is composed of a relatively heat insulating material. 
     
     
       10. In an evaporator and ice-forming device for an ice-making machine having a water inlet adapted for fluid communication with a source of water, an evaporator tube adapted for fluid communication with a source of refrigerant, at least one ice-forming plate assembly disposed in close heat transfer proximity with said evaporator tube, and water distribution means for distributing water from said water inlet to said ice-forming plate assembly, the improvement wherein said ice-forming plate assembly includes an inner plate member having one side thereof disposed in close heat transfer proximity with said evaporator tube and having a number of elongated openings extending therethrough, a number of generally horizontally-extending grid members serially spaced vertically along an outer side of said inner plate member, and a number of generally vertically-extending grid members serially spaced horizontally along said outer side of said inner plate member and interlockingly intersecting said vertically spaced horizontal grid members, said intersecting horizontal and vertical grid members extending laterally outwardly from said inner plate member and intersecting one another to define the sides of a number of rows of open, outwardly-facing water-receiving recesses therebetween with said inner plate member defining the floors of said water-receiving recesses, said vertical and horizontal grid members being disposed on an opposite side of said inner plate member from the evaporator tube to form an interlocking grid subassembly, said grid subassembly having a number of laterally inwardly-protruding tabs thereon, said tabs extending through said elongated openings in said inner plate member and being bent over on the evaporator tube side of said inner plate member in order to interlockingly secure said horizontal and vertical grid members to said inner plate member and to form said ice-forming plate assembly, said ice-forming plate assembly and said evaporator tube being coated with a heat conductive coating after said grid subassembly is secured to said inner plate member, said water distribution means including a horizontally-extending inner water tube and a horizontally-extending outer water tube generally surrounding said inner water tube, said inner water tube being in sealed fluid communication with said water inlet, and sealing means for sealing opposite ends of said inner and outer water tubes to one another, said inner and outer water tubes having an annular space therebetween disposed between said opposite sealed ends, said inner water tube having a number of generally vertically-extending inner tube openings spaced-apart along its length for providing fluid communication between the interior of said inner water tube and said annular space, said inner tube openings being spaced apart on a lower side of said inner water tube, said outer water tube having a number of generally vertically-extending outer tube openings spaced apart along its length for providing fluid communication between said annular space and the exterior of said outer water tube, said outer tube openings being spaced apart on an upper side of said outer water tube, said water distribution means being adapted for providing fluid communication for water from said water inlet, generally horizontally through said inner water tube, generally downwardly through said inner tube openings, and generally upwardly through said annular space on both opposite sides of said inner water tube to be discharged generally upwardly through said outer tube openings to both of opposite sides of the exterior of said outer water tube, said water distribution means being disposed generally along and adjacent an upper generally horizontal edge of said ice-forming plate assemblies in order to allow water from said water distribution means to run therefrom and to flow along the outer sides of both ice-forming plate assemblies.